Prevalence,Awareness,and Control of Hypertension Among Adults by Disability Status,United States,August 2021–August 2023

Abstract

Objectives:

Nearly half of US adults have hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities; however, national estimates use old data and definitions, and hypertension awareness and control are understudied. This study compared hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control among adults with and without disabilities.

Methods:

We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (August 2021–August 2023) for adults aged ≥18 years (N = 5999). To determine disability status, we used the Washington Group on Disability Statistics questionnaire, which covers the domains of seeing, hearing, walking, communication, cognition, self-care, upper-body function, and affect. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥130/80 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication. Among adults with hypertension, awareness was defined as self-report of physician diagnosis and control as blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and health characteristics and accounting for the complex survey design.

Results:

Hypertension prevalence was significantly higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities (57.2% vs 45.1%; P < .001). Among those with hypertension, the prevalence of awareness (71.3% vs 55.0%; P < .001) and control (27.3% vs 18.4%; P < .001) was significantly higher among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities. Adjusted analyses showed a higher prevalence of hypertension (APR = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.21), awareness (APR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.30), and control (APR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.12-1.54) among adults with disabilities than among those without disabilities.

Conclusions:

Primary prevention may be particularly important for adults with disabilities. Improving awareness and control remains a key public health challenge regardless of disability status.